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Alfredsson and Schaefer practise

by
Staff Writer
/ Ottawa Senators

Senators defenceman Anton Volchenkov is expected to be out of the lineup for four or five more days with a fractured fingertip.

by Todd Anderson

After a few days of rest and physiotherapy, Senators forwards Daniel Alfredsson and Peter Schaefer were back on the ice today participating in a light practice with a small group of players. Both veterans have been kept out of the pre-season lineup with groin injuries for the past couple of days as a precaution.

Today's skate was primarily focused on shooting drills. Afterwards, both players said they were feeling better.

"Today was the first step," Alfredsson said. "If I feel good tomorrow, maybe I'll practise with the team and we'll go from there. When you're hurt, you have to be careful the first few times you're back on the ice. I just want to make sure I will be ready when the regular season starts."

Schaefer hopes to be back in action for the Senators' next pre-season game at home.

"Thursday (against the Montreal Canadiens) is a goal of mine," Schaefer said. "(The groin) felt pretty good today. I had a lot of jump. I trained hard this summer and we've skated hard (during training camp). We're trying to instill a hard work ethic here this year, and the guys have bought in. There's going to be some tight groins and hip flexors."

Senators vs. CanadiensTonight the Senators meet the Montreal Canadiens at the Colchester Legion Stadium in Truro, N.S., as part of the Kraft Hockeyville contest. Salmon River, N.S., was proclaimed Hockeyville as Canada's most hockey-oriented community last June. Through the CBC-TV competition, Salmon River won $50,000 worth of repairs for its local rink and an NHL exhibition game.

Ottawa has an all-time pre-season record of 3-6-3 against Montreal.

Volchenkov sidelinedSenators defenceman Anton Volchenkov will be out of the lineup for four or five more days with a fracture to the middle fingertip of his right hand. The injury was suffered late in Ottawa's 4-3 win over the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday.